FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 20

 SWITZERLAND REACHES FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINAL 2022

Produced the most 7 players in the Japan national team New Football Kingdom? Kanagawa boils over World Cup

In the first round of the World Cup Qatar, they won a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Spain, one of the world's strongest teams, on December 2 (2nd Japan hours). Goals and assists from TANAKA Ao (from Kawasaki City), Kaoru Mitoma (from Yokosuka), and Junya Ito (from Yokosuka City) clinched a place in the final tournament for the second consecutive time. Seven players from Kanagawa Prefecture are from Kanagawa, the most in Japan, and six of them participated in the match against Spain. Soccer officials in the prefecture praised their achievements, saying, "I am really proud of them."

Four players from the prefecture started the match: Ito, Tanaka, Takefusa Kubo (from Kawasaki City) and Kou Itakura (from Yokohama City). In the first half, Spain dominated the ball, but Ito made a good shot and Taniguchi Shogo (Kawasaki Frontale), who is making his first appearance in the World Cup, showed tenacious defence. Kanagawa University's coach Yuzaburo Omori, 52, Ito's alma mater, recalled, "In the first half (when Spain took a one-goal lead), we were patient and I thought the victory was close to a dream."

The situation changed drastically from the start of the second half, when Mitoma and others came on as substitutes. Ito connected with Ritsu Doan with a header from Spain's floating ball to score the goal. Coach Omori was delighted, saying, "It was a good header that competed well with the opponent in the half, and the sight of the alumni making a lively move on the big stage is encouraging to the members of Kanagawa University."

In the sixth minute of the second half, Tanaka scored the winning goal from Mitoma's equal. Gonda Shuichi (from Tokyo) and ENDO Wataru (from Yokohama), who came on as a substitute, also played an active role and managed to suppress the Spanish attack.

Sawada Shuji (64), a representative of "Saginuma Soccer Club (SC)" = Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki City = who produced four players, Tanaka, Mitoma, Itakura and Gonda, said after the match, "Four players were selected for the World Cup, and I was able to see the goals of (Tanaka and Mitoma) not giving up until the end.

Masamichi Kono, 64, executive director of the Prefectural Football Association, said, "I am really proud that there are so many players from the prefecture, and I think the presence of local J.League clubs and the contribution of local coaches is immeasurable."

12 years after Suarez's "Hand of God" incident, penalty kick again in a confrontation World Cup

In Group H of the first round of the World Cup Qatar, Uruguay defeated Ghana 2-0 on 2nd December (3 Japan hours). With one win, one draw and one loss, they were level with Korea Republic on points and points, but they fell short in total goals and were eliminated in third place in the same group. Ghana was at the bottom.

Twelve years have passed since the "Hand of God" incident. Both teams faced each other in a situation where their first round was at stake. In addition, the "protagonist" of the incident is still alive and well, and the stadium was enveloped in a strange atmosphere.

The "incident" occurred during the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ghana, who advanced to the last eight for the first time, faced South American powerhouse Uruguay. The equalizer came just before the end of the second half of extra time. Ghana's decisive shot was rebounded by Uruguay's Suarez.

Of course, if he hadn't used his hands, it would have been Ghana's winning goal. Moreover, Ghana missed a penalty awarded by Suarez's foul. Uruguay's victory on penalties after extra time was unsettled and Suarez came under heavy criticism. It is said that many people in Ghana are still angry about this.

At the press conference the day before the match on the 1st, questions focused on the "Hand of God Incident" 12 years ago. The 35-year-old said: "I don't think I need to apologize for that, I was the one who handled the ball with my hands, but it was the Ghanaian who missed the penalty, not me." Meanwhile, Ghana's coach Addo said, "It was a very sad event, but we can't change it, we want to look forward and win [tomorrow's] match in any way."

Even in the first match in 12 years, there was a penalty shootout. Ghana won a penalty in the first half, but the Uruguayan goalkeeper blocked it with good defense.

Suarez, who sees this tournament as his "last World Cup", has made his presence felt in the starting line-up. He opened the scoring in the first half, produced an additional goal, and was substituted in the second half with a full expression. However, Uruguay fell from second place to third place in the group as Korea Republic beat Portugal in the final minute of the other match in Group H, which started at the same time, was shown on the screen at the match venue. Suarez watched the match from the bench with red eyes.

The confrontation was an unexpected defeat between the two teams. The players left the stadium without smiling faces.

Switzerland reach third consecutive World Cup final, Pixie's Serbia defeated World Cup

Switzerland defeated Serbia 3-2 in Group G of the first round of the World Cup Qatar on 2nd December (3rd Japan hours) to earn 6 points with 2 wins and 1 loss. They were level on points with Brazil but fell short on goal difference, finishing second in the group and qualifying for the final tournament for the third consecutive time. They will face Group H No. 1 Portugal on the 6th (and 7th) for a place in the last eight.

Switzerland opened the scoring in the first half through Shaqiri. Serbia was briefly upset, but Embolo's goal in the closing minutes of the first half saw Freuler score the winner early in the second half.

Serbia, nicknamed "Pixie" (fairy), was coached by Stojkovic, who was a player and coach at J1 Nagoya, but was eliminated at the bottom of Group G with two losses and one draw.

SWITZERLAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IN WORLD CUP QATAR 2022

Brazil defeated, but finished in first place, Cameroon eliminated Soccer World Cup

Brazil, who has already qualified for the final tournament, lost 0-1 to Cameroon in Group G of the first round of the World Cup Qatar on 2nd December (3rd Japan hours). They have two wins and one loss and six points. They were level on points with Switzerland but ahead on goal difference and advanced to the playoffs in first place in the group. They will face Korea Republic, who are ranked second in Group H, on 5 (6 June) for a place in the last eight.

Cameroon broke the balance with a goal from Abubakar in the closing minutes of the second half, but finished third in Group G with four points with one win, one loss and one draw. They failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since the last eight of the tournament in Italy in 1990.

Coach Moriyasu ahead of Croatia match: "There is no secret plan" Soccer World Cup

Coach MORIYASU Hajime of the Japan National Soccer Team spoke to reporters at his base in Doha on two days, one day after their match against Spain, which clinched a place in the first round of the World Cup Qatar.

Japan will face Croatia, the runners-up in Russia 2018 and the second-place finisher in Group F, on 5th December (6 Japan hours). Coach Moriyasu cautioned, "We are a team that can play very flexibly and tenaciously, and there are some things we should learn from in terms of fighting mentality." "There is no secret plan," he laughed, emphasizing the team's all-out stance, "The good thing about this team (Japan) is that all 26 players think that they are regulars, and I think they will work individually to help the team win."

On this day, the players are off. Regarding the come-from-behind win against Spain, he praised the players, saying, "In a really difficult match, they fought tenaciously and patiently to go on the attack." "If possible, we need to improve our grip on the ball more and apply more pressure up front, like in Spain," he said.